When you have a pool, you need to maintain the quality of pool water. In addition to maintaining water quality, you need to know how much sodium bicarbonate to raise alkalinity in pool. For people who are concerned about raising alkalinity in the pool, this article will provide a brief explanation about how you can increase total alkalinity and how much baking soda you should be using to raise alkalinity in the pool.
Baking soda keeps raising pH and alkalinity in Pools
In most cases, people often look for two issues regarding their pool. Usually, pool owners want to know how to raise alkalinity in the pool and how to raise pH in the pool.
It is commonly known that chlorine is an important chemical that ensures your pool water is safe for swimming. You will also need to keep in mind that adding too much chlorine can lower your pool’s pH and alkalinity.
When alkalinity falls, you may not have a stable pH. When you have a lower pH and alkalinity of your pool water, it will cause other serious problems such as itchy skin, stinging eyes, and other skin diseases. You should keep in mind that when the water’s alkalinity becomes low, any chemicals you apply to your pool water will exponentially affect the pH, thus creating a condition called pH bounce. You can maintain your pool’s alkalinity and pH by using baking soda. The use of baking soda is less costly, hassle-free, and provides adequate alkalinity and pH.
What does the sodium bicarbonate do to your pool?
Sodium bicarbonate, also called Baking soda, is naturally alkaline, with a pH of 8. In addition to improving stability and clarity, you have to add baking soda to your pool water. Baking soda is considered the main medicine for raising the alkalinity and water quality in your pool.
Process you need to follow while using baking soda to increase total alkalinity
There are some steps you need to follow to test and raise your pool’s alkalinity and pH with baking soda:
Alkalinity level
You should test your pool’s alkalinity every day. Generally, your pH has to be between 7.2 and 7.8, and the alkalinity needs to remain between 110 and 150 ppm (parts per million). If your alkalinity drops lower, specifically less than 80 ppm, then your alkalinity needs to be raised.
Amount of baking soda to be purchased
You can purchase baking soda in bulk. Baking soda is available in pouches up to 15 Ibs. You will apply around 1.5 lbs to up to 8-10 Ibs in your pool’s water, depending on the alkalinity level.
Amount of baking soda to be applied
You need to determine the amount of baking soda you need to apply to your pool’s water. Pool chemical measurements are typically based on 10000 gallons of water. You need to adjust your pool if it is larger or smaller. A rule of thumb is to apply 1.5 Ibs of baking soda per 10000 gallons of your pool’s water, and this will raise alkalinity by 10 ppm. If the pool’s water pH tested lower than 7.2, you need to add 3-4 pounds of baking soda. If you are a beginner in adding pool chemicals, you need to start by adding one-half or three-fourths of the recommended amount. After retesting, you can add more if you see the level is still low.
- You are now ready to add baking soda to your pool. Baking soda usually comes in powder form. You will have to spread in wide arcs across the pool’s surface in addition to avoiding dumping it in one spot. You should keep in mind that you will not do that on a windy day as the powder can go airborne.
- After applying baking soda to your pool, you now need to wait about 6 hours. You should wait to let the baking soda dissolve into the water. Then, you should turn on your pool’s circulation system, too, to help it disperse.
- You may need to retest and repeat the process if required. Between 6 and 24 hours after you put the baking soda, you should retest your pool’s pH and total alkalinity. If you get the pH below 7.2 and the alkalinity below 110 ppm, you will have to repeat the above steps.
Conclusion
If you identify corrosion on your pool’s pipes, ladders, or over the pool liner or tiles, you will undoubtedly have very low water alkalinity. You now need to raise alkalinity in the pool. To increase total alkalinity in your pool, you will need to test and add arm & hammer baking soda in addition to removing corrosion. Baking soda is less costly, available almost everywhere, and reliable for maintaining the quality of the water of your pool.